Crew News & Notes - March 10

The Crew is in Atlanta for the final leg of its 2011 preseason, during which it will participate in the inaugural Atlanta Pro Soccer Challenge with matches against the New England Revolution on Wednesday (March 9) and Houston Dynamo on Friday (March 11).

Both matches will be played at the Kennesaw State University Soccer Stadium, home of the Atlanta Beat of Women’s Professional Soccer, and kick off at 7:30 p.m. The third match in the round-robin tournament will pit Houston and New England against each other on Sunday (March 13).

The Atlanta Pro Soccer Challenge marks the first time that Major League Soccer teams will play in Atlanta, giving local fans the opportunity to enjoy domestic first division soccer again. Atlanta has a rich soccer history, dating back to the North American Soccer League’s Chiefs, who were league champs in 1968, and continuing its tradition with the Atlanta Silverbacks of the new (Division II) NASL and the Beat, which is hosting the tournament.

The Crew and Revs squared off in advance of the Challenge, on Sunday (March 6) in Chattanooga, Tenn., with New England coming away with a 2-1 victory. The Black & Gold and Dynamo have already met this preseason, as well, with Houston claiming a 4-2 victory in a 120-minute affair in Phoenix on Feb. 17.

The Crew will return to Columbus on March 12 for one final week of preparation, in advance of FirstKick 2011 vs. D.C. United at RFK Stadium on Saturday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. The Black & Gold will open its home season at Crew Stadium on Saturday, March 26, when it hosts the New York Red Bulls at 4 p.m.

REGULAR-SEASON SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOWSingle-game tickets for all 17 regular-season matches – including the home opener against Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez and the New York Red Bulls on March 26 – are on sale now, at the Crew Stadium Box Office, all central Ohio Ticketmaster retail locations, via Ticketmaster phone at 1-800-745-3000 and on-line at TheCrew.com. For complete promotional schedule, please visit: http://www.thecrew.com/tickets/promotions.